Portsmouth Confidential: Shooting Up at the Donut Shop and a 10-year-old Car Thief
It was a pretty wild morning in Portsmouth as officers dealt with everything from a woman shooting up at a donut shop to a pair of car thieves who should have been in elementary school to a missing elderly man. And all of this happened before lunch.
We hit the highlights of the Portsmouth Police Chief’s Daily Briefing.
Suspicious Activity
- Just after 1 am, a caller reported a suspicious vehicle in the area of Spartan Stadium. The responding officer discovered the occupants of the vehicle were recently homeless and living out of their car.
- An 8th Street business contacted police at 7 am to report a woman in the dumpster who refused to leave. The caller said the woman had made a mess. Police advised the woman to leave.
- At 7:26 am a Jackson Avenue caller reported someone threw bricks at his vehicle and damaged the windshield and fender.
Towed Away
Osco Industries reported a white truck with a missing tire parked near the plant for several days. Police arranged to have the vehicle towed just after 6 am.
Police stopped a vehicle on Gallia for a loud exhaust and an unreadable tag. The owner was so upset the vehicle was getting towed, he grabbed the tag and left the scene. He returned a while later. The man, who had no license, told the officer he’d call the Sheriff’s Office and arrange to have him demoted and then left the scene again.
Under The Influence
At 6:35 am, a caller told police a man was overdosing near Verizon on Young Street. An ambulance transported the man to the hospital.
A Tim Horton’s employee called PPD at 9:30 am to report a woman had locked herself in their bathroom and they believed she was using drugs. An officer advised the woman to leave the premises. A needle was found in the trash can of the restroom.
About an hour later, the homeless shelter reported the same woman lying behind their dumpster. Personnel from the homeless shelter said they had a video of her using drugs. She was asked to leave the area.
Missing Elder In Danger
A Highland Avenue woman contacted police to report her 86-year-old husband had been missing for fifteen hours.
She said he’d left their home the previous day around 5 pm and she had not seen or hear from him. There was no answer on his cell phone. The wife said her husband has Alzheimer’s and she’s very worried about him.
Grand Theft Auto
Fitzgerald Auto Sales called PPD just before 10 am to report a vehicle stolen from the lot. The lot’s surveillance video caught a white guy in a hoodie stealing the vehicle.
Police took information for a report.
10 & 13-year-olds Steal Car
Officers were alerted to a pair of very young car thieves just after 10 am. The West Virginia State Patrol asked PPD to check the area for a sliver Saturn driven by a 10 & 13-year-old.
The little thieves’ parents told police where the kids were headed and were on their way to get them.
Police were unable to contact CPS after trying multiple times to get answers on what should happen to the juveniles. However, the West Virginia State Patrol advised PPD to release the kids and the car back to their family.
